After their offense struggled to do much of anything in last Sunday’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers need a bit of a boost and need to bounce back in a big way in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium.
That boost could come in the form of wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed with the Steelers’ practice squad last week. His familiarity with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his ability to stretch the field and win vertically, and the reality that the Steelers need some help at receiver could get him onto the field this week.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said he is open to elevating the veteran this week, but it will depend on his performance throughout the week in practices.
For former NFL GM Doug Whaley, who appeared on 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show Wednesday, there’s no reason not to elevate Valdes-Scantling this week.
“Why not? What are you saving him for? Get him up there and get him on this moving train,” Whaley, according to audio via 93.7 The Fan. “If he’s ready now physically, is he in shape? Can he handle it? If those questions are checked off and, yes, get him out there because of that connection he has with Aaron Rodgers, they can have some nonverbal communication, and they probably see things very similarly. MVS knows what Aaron wants. Aaron knows that MVS will perform at that level.
“So he’ll be able to give Aaron that security blanket that he may not have or has developed with other receiving options on the Steelers. And like I said, what are you saving him for? Why not?”
Though Valdes-Scantling hasn’t played with Rodgers since the 2021 season, they had some great success together from 2018-21 in Green Bay. During that time, Valdes-Scantling hauled in 123 passes for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns. Those are pretty good numbers for a wide receiver with Rodgers in 59 games.
Can they replicate that in Pittsburgh? That remains to be seen. Rodgers has spoken highly of his former teammate, stating how great he is in the locker room and on the field, but they’re older now and the on-field chemistry on a day-to-day basis hasn’t been there in three-and-a-half seasons.
Still, there is some chemistry there, and the Steelers very clearly need another receiving threat. Valdes-Scantling might not have much left and probably won’t scare any defensive coordinators, but if given an opportunity with Rodgers once again, they could create some magic and help open things up offensively for Pittsburgh with a few deep shots.
Rodgers still has the arm and Valdes-Scantling can still get behind defensive backs and create splash, as he showed last season in New Orleans.
This would be a good week to try it out, especially with the Bengals not having much of a pass rush to worry about, and a defense that has given up a number of big plays.
Pittsburgh needs some sort of spark offensively, and MVS could be that answer.
